Transcript of "Harun Yahya Islam Romanticism A Weapon Of Satan"

1.
To The Reader
The reason why a special chapter is assigned to the collapse of the theory of evolution
is that this theory constitutes the basis of all anti-spiritual philosophies. Since
Darwinism rejects the fact of creation, and therefore the existence of God, during the
last 140 years it has caused many people to abandon their faith or fall into doubt.
Therefore, showing that this theory is a deception is a very important duty, which is
strongly related to the religion. It is imperative that this important service be
rendered to everyone. Some of our readers may find the chance to read only one of
our books. Therefore, we think it appropriate to spare a chapter for a summary of this
subject.
In all the books by the author, faith-related issues are explained in the light of the
Qur'anic verses and people are invited to learn God's words and to live by them. All
the subjects that concern God's verses are explained in such a way as to leave no
room for doubt or question marks in the reader's mind. The sincere, plain and fluent
style employed ensures that everyone of every age and from every social group can
easily understand the books. This effective and lucid narrative makes it possible to
read them in a single sitting. Even those who rigorously reject spirituality are
influenced by the facts recounted in these books and cannot refute the truthfulness
of their contents.
This book and all the other works of the author can be read individually or
discussed in a group at a time of conversation. Those readers who are willing to
profit from the books will find discussion very useful in the sense that they will be
able to relate their own reflections and experiences to one another.
In addition, it will be a great service to the religion to contribute to the presentation
and reading of these books, which are written solely for the good pleasure of God.
All the books of the author are extremely convincing. For this reason, for those who
want to communicate the religion to other people, one of the most effective methods
is to encourage them to read these books.
It is hoped that the reader will take time to look through the review of other books
on the final pages of the book, and appreciate the rich source of material on faith-
related issues, which are very useful
and a pleasure to read.
In these books, you will not find, as in some other books, the personal views of the
author, explanations based on dubious sources, styles that are unobservant of the
respect and reverence due to sacred subjects, nor hopeless, doubt-creating, and
pessimistic accounts that create deviations in the heart.

3.
First published April 2002
Millat Book Center, 2002
Distributed by
Millat Center
All translations from the Qur'an are from "The Noble Qur'an: a New Rendering of its Meaning in English"
by Hajj Abdalhaqq and Aisha Bewley, published by Bookwork, Norwich, UK. 1420 CE/1999 AH.
Website: http: // www.harunyahya.com
E-mail: info@harunyahya.com
Translated by: Ron Evans
Edited by: David Livingstone
ISBN:
Printed in India

5.
About The Author
The author, who writes under the pen-name HARUN YAHYA, was born in Ankara in 1956. Having
completed his primary and secondary education in Ankara, he then studied arts at Istanbul's Mimar Sinan
University and philosophy at Istanbul University. Since the 1980s, the author has published many books
on political, faith-related and scientific issues. Harun Yahya is well-known as an author who has written
very important works disclosing the imposture of evolutionists, the invalidity of their claims and the dark
liaisons between Darwinism and bloody ideologies such as fascism and communism.
His pen-name is made up of the names "Harun" (Aaron) and "Yahya" (John), in memory of the two
esteemed prophets who fought against lack of faith. The Prophet's seal on the cover of the author's books
has a symbolic meaning linked to the their contents. This seal represents the Koran, the last Book and the
last word of God, and our Prophet, the last of all the prophets. Under the guidance of the Koran and
Sunnah, the author makes it his main goal to disprove each one of the fundamental tenets of godless
ideologies and to have the "last word", so as to completely silence the objections raised against religion.
The seal of the Prophet, who attained ultimate wisdom and moral perfection, is used as a sign of his
intention of saying this last word.
All these works by the author centre around one goal: to convey the message of the Koran to people,
thus encouraging them to think about basic faith-related issues, such as the existence of God, His unity
and the hereafter, and to display the decrepit foundations and perverted works of godless systems.
Harun Yahya enjoys a wide readership in many countries, from India to America, England to
Indonesia, Poland to Bosnia, and Spain to Brazil. Some of his books are available in English, French,
German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Urdu, Arabic, Albanian, Russian, Serbo-Croat (Bosnian), Polish,
Malay, Uygur Turkish, and Indonesian, and they have been enjoyed by readers all over the world.
Greatly appreciated all around the world, these works have been instrumental in many people
putting their faith in God and in many others gaining a deeper insight into their faith. The wisdom, and
the sincere and easy-to-understand style employed give these books a distinct touch which directly strikes
any one who reads or examines them. Immune to objections, these works are characterised by their
features of rapid effectiveness, definite results and irrefutability. It is unlikely that those who read these
books and give a serious thought to them can any longer sincerely advocate the materialistic philosophy,
atheism and any other perverted ideology or philosophy. Even if they continue to advocate, this will be
only a sentimental insistence since these books have refuted these ideologies from their very basis. All
contemporary movements of denial are ideologically defeated today, thanks to the collection of books
written by Harun Yahya.
There is no doubt that these features result from the wisdom and lucidity of the Koran. The author
certainly does not feel proud of himself; he merely intends to serve as a means in one's search for God's
right path. Furthermore, no material gain is sought in the publication of these works.
Considering these facts, those who encourage people to read these books, which open the "eyes" of
the heart and guide them in becoming more devoted servants of God, render an invaluable service.
Meanwhile, it would just be a waste of time and energy to propagate other books which create
confusion in peoples' minds, lead man into ideological chaos, and which, clearly have no strong and
precise effects in removing the doubts in peoples' hearts, as also verified from previous experience. It is
apparent that it is impossible for books devised to emphasize the author's literary power rather than the
noble goal of saving people from loss of faith, to have such a great effect. Those who doubt this can readily
see that the sole aim of Harun Yahya's books is to overcome disbelief and to disseminate the moral values
of the Koran. The success, impact and sincerity this service has attained are manifest in the reader's
conviction.
One point needs to be kept in mind: The main reason for the continuing cruelty and conflict, and
all the ordeals the majority of people undergo is the ideological prevalence of disbelief. These things can
only come to an end with the ideological defeat of disbelief and by ensuring that everybody knows about
the wonders of creation and Koranic morality, so that people can live by it. Considering the state of the

6.
world today, which forces people into the downward spiral of violence, corruption and conflict, it is clear
that this service has to be provided more speedily and effectively. Otherwise, it may be too late.
It is no exaggeration to say that the collection of books by Harun Yahya have assumed this leading
role. By the Will of God, these books will be the means through which people in the 21st century will attain
the peace and bliss, justice and happiness promised in the Koran.
The works of the author include The New Masonic Order, Judaism and Freemasonry, Global
Freemasonry, Islam Denounces Terrorism, The Disasters Darwinism Brought to Humanity, Communism in
Ambush, Fascism: The Bloody Ideology of Darwinism, The 'Secret Hand' in Bosnia, Behind the Scenes of
The Holocaust, Behind the Scenes of Terrorism, Israel's Kurdish Card, The Oppression Policy of
Communist China and Eastern Turkestan, Solution: The Values of the Qur'an, The Winter of Islam and Its
Expected Spring, Articles 1-2-3, A Weapon of Satan: Romantism, Signs from the Chapter of the Cave to the
Last Times, Signs of the Last Day, The Last Times and The Beast of the Earth, Truths 1-2, The Western
World Turns to God, The Evolution Deceit, Precise Answers to Evolutionists, The Blunders of
Evolutionists, Confessions of Evolutionists, The Qur'an Denies Darwinism, Perished Nations, For Men of
Understanding, The Prophet Moses, The Prophet Joseph, The Prophet Mohammed, The Prophet Solomon,
The Golden Age, Allah's Artistry in Colour, Glory is Everywhere, The Importance of the Evidences of
Creation, The Truth of the Life of This World, The Nightmare of Disbelief, Knowing the Truth, Eternity Has
Already Begun, Timelessness and the Reality of Fate, Matter: Another Name for Illusion, The Little Man
in the Tower, Islam and the Philosophy of Karma, The Dark Magic of Darwinism, The Religion of
Darwinism, The Collapse of the Theory of Evolution in 20 Questions, Allah is Known Through Reason, The
Qur'an Leads the Way to Science, The Real Origin of Life, Consciousness in the Cell, A String of Miracles,
The Creation of the Universe, Miracles of the Qur'an, The Design in Nature, Self-Sacrifice and Intelligent
Behaviour Models in Animals, The End of Darwinism, Deep Thinking, Never Plead Ignorance, The Green
Miracle: Photosynthesis, The Miracle in the Cell, The Miracle in the Eye, The Miracle in the Spider, The
Miracle in the Gnat, The Miracle in the Ant, The Miracle of the Immune System, The Miracle of Creation
in Plants, The Miracle in the Atom, The Miracle in the Honeybee, The Miracle of Seed, The Miracle of
Hormone, The Miracle of the Termite, The Miracle of the Human Body, The Miracle of Man's Creation, The
Miracle of Protein, The Miracle of Smell and Taste, The Secrets of DNA.
The author's childrens books are: Wonders of Allah's Creation, The World of Animals, The
Splendour in the Skies, Wonderful Creatures, Let's Learn Our Religion, The World of Our Little Friends:
The Ants, Honeybees That Build Perfect Combs, Skillful Dam Builders: Beavers.
The author's other works on Quranic topics include: The Basic Concepts in the Qur'an, The Moral
Values of the Qur'an, Quick Grasp of Faith 1-2-3, Ever Thought About the Truth?, Crude Understanding of
Disbelief, Devoted to Allah, Abandoning the Society of Ignorance, The Real Home of Believers: Paradise,
Knowledge of the Qur'an, Qur'an Index, Emigrating for the Cause of Allah, The Character of the Hypocrite
in the Qur'an, The Secrets of the Hypocrite, The Names of Allah, Communicating the Message and
Disputing in the Qur'an, Answers from the Qur'an, Death Resurrection Hell, The Struggle of the
Messengers, The Avowed Enemy of Man: Satan, The Greatest Slander: Idolatry, The Religion of the
Ignorant, The Arrogance of Satan, Prayer in the Qur'an, The Theory of Evolution, The Importance of
Conscience in the Qur'an, The Day of Resurrection, Never Forget, Disregarded Judgements of the Qur'an,
Human Characters in the Society of Ignorance, The Importance of Patience in the Qur'an, General
Information from the Qur'an, The Mature Faith, Before You Regret, Our Messengers Say, The Mercy of
Believers, The Fear of Allah, Jesus Will Return, Beauties Presented by the Qur'an for Life, A Bouquet of
the Beauties of Allah 1-2-3-4, The Iniquity Called "Mockery," The Mystery of the Test, The True Wisdom
According to the Qur'an, The Struggle with the Religion of Irreligion, The School of Yusuf, The Alliance of
the Good, Slanders Spread Against Muslims Throughout History, The Importance of Following the Good
Word, Why Do You Deceive Yourself?, Islam: The Religion of Ease, Enthusiasm and Excitement in the
Qur'an, Seeing Good in Everything, How do the Unwise Interpret the Qur'an?, Some Secrets of the Qur'an,
The Courage of Believers, Being Hopeful in the Qur'an, Justice and Tolerance in the Qur'an, Basic Tenets of
Islam, Those Who do not Listen to the Qur'an, Taking the Qur'an as a Guide, A Lurking Threat:
Heedlessness, Sincerity in the Qur'an.

7.
CONTENTS
FOREWORD .........................................10
INTRODUCTION ....................................12
LEGITIMATE AND ILLEGITIMATE
LOVE...................................................14
ROMANTIC NATIONALISM .....................18
THE VARIOUS IDEOLOGIES OF
ROMANTICISM......................................40
ROMANTICISM IN THE NAME OF
RELIGION ...........................................50
THE TRUE WISDOM THAT
COMES FROM FAITH.............................56
ROMANTICISM: MISCELLANEA ..............74
THE IDEA OF ROMANTIC LOVE .............96
THE PHYSICAL ILL CAUSED
BY ROMANTICISM...............................106
CONCLUSION: HOW TO ESCAPE
THE DISEASE OF ROMANTICISM .........112
THE MISCONCEPTION OF EVOLUTION ..118

8.
It (the Qur'an) is a Book
We have sent down to
you, full of blessing, so
let men of understanding
ponder its signs and take
heed. (Qur'an, 38:29)

9.
Foreword
n societies where the practise of religion has lapsed, it is often the
I case that what is true comes to be regarded as false, and,
conversely, what is false is regarded as true. While encouraging
and promoting an errant belief system disapproved by God, these
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societies may come to consider the correct belief system as inadequate
or even undesirable. The confusion of what is perverse with what is
true is common to non-religious societies; a condition which
permeates their very structure.
Romanticism is one such falsehood that is erroneously thought to
be "true." In a society where people do not live by the true religion,
romanticism is portrayed as a favourable quality peculiar to
compassionate, good people. However, as will be explored point by
point in this book, sentimental longing is a dangerous sentiment to
adopt. Essentially, one of the most harmful characteristics of
romanticism, and from which we must be on our guard, is that it
rejects "reason" as contrary to its philosophy.
The purpose of this book, in dealing with the subject of
romanticism, is to draw attention to the fact that, while it may appear
harmless, in actuality, it is an attitude that leads to certain surprising
dangers. Although romanticism may appear to be an outlook not far
out of the ordinary, this book will demonstrate how serious a peril it
poses, both to society and the individual. And, of course, this book will
show how easy it is to avoid such a pitfall; that is, by turning to the
Qu'ran as the only guidance that God has bestowed upon humanity.
We will provide numerous examples to make clear the point that when
one follows the Qur'an, one cannot abandon reason for the sake of
emotionally based principles.

10.
Stir up any of them you can with
your voice and rally against
them your cavalry and your
infantry and share with them in
their children and their wealth
and make them promises! The
promise of Satan is nothing but
delusion. (Quran, 17:64)

11.
Introduction
here is a subtle danger that leads people away from religion,
T prevents them from submitting to God as their Lord, and ultimately
brings numerous other forms of trouble and distress upon them.
This danger can be recognised in many different areas of our lives: the 13
clenched fist of a fascist, the rousing anthem of a communist, or in the
words of a letter written by a young man expressing his love to his loved-
one. All arise from the same pernicious source.
The most disturbing aspect of this danger is that an overwhelming
number of people do not see it as a danger at all, nor do they realise either
that it is actually a state of mind completely inimical to religion. In fact,
many view it, not as a dangerous error, but rather as a virtue to be
encouraged and widely propagated.
This danger of which we are speaking is sentimentality that leads
people to live, not according to their reason, but according to their
emotions; that is, according to their desires, hatreds, their susceptibility to
temptation, and their stubbornness.
Sentimentality has become part of a culture of ignorance that has now
brought millions of people throughout the world under its influence. In fact,
it is one of the weapons that Satan uses to divert people from following the
way of God, because someone who has fallen into the clutches of
sentimentalism loses the ability to use his reason. And, when he cannot use
his reason, then he cannot appreciate the fact that God has created him, nor
can he come to recognise His signs and purposes, nor can he live in
accordance to the sublime truths of religion. A life lived righteously is
dependant on the use of one's reason, for God sent the Qu'ran "so that men
of understanding may ponder its Signs and take heed." (Qur'an, 38:29)
More precisely, if not treated, the disease of sentimentalism renders it
impossible for a person to understand or experience religion in its true sense.
Moreover, unless treated, the disease of sentimentality will make it
impossible to bring an end to the pointless disputes, senseless suffering,
assaults, distress and cruelty people inflict upon themselves in this world.
This book will deal with the subject of sentimentalism by considering
a few examples of this culture of ignorance, both in recent history, and in
our own daily lives. No one should consider himself immune from this
danger; on the contrary, everyone should be on their guard from the mire
in which Satan wishes to trap us.

12.
You who believe! Do not take My
enemy and your enemy as friends,
showing love for them when they
have rejected the truth that has
come to you… (Quran, 60:1)

13.
Legitimate and Illegitimate Love
entimentalism, or in other words, romantic longing, makes itself
S known most often under the guise of "love." For example, as we
will explore in the following pages, the romantic nationalists
claim to love their country, for which reason they are hostile or even 15
aggressive towards other nations. Or, we may consider a young man in
love with a girl which he turns into the sole focus of his life: what leads
him to write her poetry saying "I love you," and to become obsessed
with her to the point of suicide, and, in fact, to "divinise" her, is the
notion of "love." Then, there are homosexuals, those who fall under
God's interdiction, and shamelessly and insistently practise their
perversion; they too claim to have found "love."
As for the majority of people, they think that every emotion to
which the name of "love" is ascribed is virtuous, pure, and even holy,
and that examples of romantic longing, such as what we have
mentioned above, are perfectly acceptable.
Love is indeed a wonderful emotion, accorded to humanity by
God, but it is important to distinguish whether that love is real or not,
and to consider who it is directed to, and what sentiments it is
founded on. Such investigation should make apparent the difference
between a sentimentalism that leads to perverse love, and real love, as
revealed to us by God in the Qu'ran.
These issues we will examine in this book. But first, by way of
preliminary information, let us give the meaning of love as it is found
in the Qu'ran. According to the Qu'ran, love is to be shown to those
who deserve it. Those who do not deserve it are not to be loved. We
are even to distance ourselves from them emotionally, or, at least, to
not feel inclined towards them. But those who deserve love, deserve it
because of their virtue.
The only being who deserves absolute love is God, who created
us all. God brought us into existence, proffered us with the countless
blessings we enjoy, showed us the way, and promised us everlasting
paradise. He helps us out of every anxiety and graciously hears our
every call. It is He who feeds us until we are satisfied, cures us when
we are ill and then restores our spirit. Therefore, he who understands

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ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN
the mysteries of the universe loves God above all, and loves whom
God loves, that is, those devout individuals who conform to His will.
On the other hand, those transgressors who rebel against God,
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their Lord, are not worthy of love. To harbour love for these people is
a grave error, against which God warns the faithful in the following
words:
You who believe! Do not take My enemy and your enemy as
friends, showing love for them when they have rejected the truth
that has come to you, driving out the Messenger and yourselves
simply because you believe in God your Lord. If you go out to
strive in My Way and seeking My pleasure, keeping secret the love
you have for them, know best what you conceal and what you
make known. Any of you who do that have strayed from the right
way. (Quran, 60:1)
As indicated in above verse, the faithful must not bear any love
for the rebellious. There is an important point here that needs to be
kept in mind: even though a believer does not feel love in his heart for
someone who rejects religion, he will do everything in his power to
bring him to faith and submission to God. "Not to nurture love" for
such a person does not mean feeling hatred for him, or not desiring
what is good for him. On the contrary, one who believes in God will
expound the meaning of religion to any person who seeks the true
way, and who is disposed to receiving guidance. The believer who
reminds that person of the existence of paradise and hell, and warns
him of death, the day of Judgement, and of the afterlife, will fulfil his
duty with care and compassion.
Moreover, even if a person does not accept faith, despite all
efforts, it does not impede the Muslim from dealing justly with him.
Unless one tries to hurt the believers, or cause conflict and strife
between people, he should nevertheless continue to exercise the same
tolerance towards all, because God has given a command to His
believers:
God does not forbid you from being good to those who have not

15.
Legitimate and Illegitimate Love
fought you over religion or driven you from your homes, or from
being just towards them. God loves those who are just. God
merely forbids you from taking as friends those who have fought
17
you over religion and driven you from your homes and who
supported your expulsion. Any who take them as friends are
wrongdoers. (Quran, 60:8-9)
In the above verses, as well as the one cited previously (Qur'an,
60:1), God, in His great wisdom, teaches us a matter that is very
important to understand. Emotions must not guide a person's
behaviour, because they can lead into grave error. A person must act,
not according to his emotions, but according to his reason, his free-
will, and the commands of God. Moreover, he must train his emotions
to conform to his reason and will.
We can recognise this need in all who has fallen into the quagmire
of sentimentality. Hundreds of millions of people are enslaved to the
desires of their hearts, their ambition, passion, hatred and anger. They
do things irrationally, and justify their acts by claiming helplessness,
saying for example, "I can't help it. I just like it." or "I can't help it. I
want it. I feel like it." But, the fact that a person "feels like" something
does not mean that the thing is good or legitimate. Our inner-self is
always urging us to do wrong, with Satan instigating us to commit
even greater wrongs. When someone acts contrary to the will of God,
and says, "I can't help it. I feel like it," his inner-self is actually acting
as the tool of Satan. In the Qu'ran, God refers to such people in the
following manner:
Have you seen him who takes his whims and desires to be his god-
whom God has misguided knowingly, sealing up his hearing and
his heart and placing a blindfold over his eyes? Who then will
guide him after God? So will you not pay heed? (Quran, 45:23)
In the pages that follow, we will examine various examples of
excessive romanticism, a kind of sentimentalism. We will discuss the
dangers posed to people by this way of thinking, and explain how the
disease can be treated.

16.
Those who disbelieve filled their
hearts with fanatical rage-the fanatical
rage of the Time of Ignorance-and
God sent down serenity to His
Messenger and to the believers, and
bound them to the expression of
heedfulness which they had most
right to and were most entitled to.
God has knowledge of all things.
(Quran, 48:26)

17.
Romantic Nationalism
ommonly, romanticism is understood as romance or the
C Romantic movement of the nineteenth century, but besides
these forms, romanticism is also closely related to certain
political sentiments. Chief among them is "romantic nationalism,"
19
which appeared at the end of the nineteenth century, and exercised a
great influence in the world until the middle of the twentieth.
First, it must be clearly stated that our criticism is not against
nationalism per se, but against "romantic nationalism." There is a great
deal of difference between the two.
Fanatical Rage
Nationalism, in the most common sense of the term, refers to an
individual's love for his people and for his country. This is a good and
completely legitimate sentiment. Since it does not go against religion, it
has no damaging effect for humanity. Just as an individual's love for his
mother or father is a legitimate feeling, so also is love for the nation,
that nurtured him in a common faith and culture, a legitimate feeling.
Nationalistic sentiments become illegitimate when they become
irrational or overly passionate. If a person, out of love for his country,
begins, without justification, to harbour feelings of hostility towards
another nation, or tramples over the rights of other nations and
peoples in the interests of his own-for example, if he seizes their land
or confiscates their property-he has exceeded legitimate bounds. Or,
when he lets his love for his nation turn into a kind of racism, that is,
when he claims that his own nation is inherently superior to another,
he has adopted an irrational outlook.
God draws our attention to this irrational nationalism in the
Qu'ran. What is described in the following verses as "fanatical rage," is
a characteristic feature of societies who are divorced from the religion.
Those who disbelieve filled their hearts with fanatical rage-the
fanatical rage of the Time of Ignorance-and God sent down
serenity to His Messenger and to the believers, and bound them to
the expression of heedfulness which they had most right to and

18.
ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN
were most entitled to. God has knowledge of all things. (Quran,
48:26)
While the above verse speaks of "fanatical rage," it also speaks of
20
the serenity that God bestows upon those who believe in Him. This
juxtaposition points to the fact that if a person who loves his kindred,
his clan or his community, harbours hatred or aggression towards
others as a result of that love, his behaviour is errant. On the contrary,
God desires His servants to enjoy peace, tranquillity and security; in
other words, the spiritual state that God desires for His followers is
one where reason is foremost.
"Fanatical rage" does not permit such a desirable condition to
exist, but pits one group against another, based solely on differences in
language, colour, tribe or clan.
God described this "fanatical rage" already 1400 years ago in the
Qu'ran, and today it is still possible to witness its effects in every part
of the world. There are people in Africa who strangle others to death
just because they belong to a different tribe. In Europe, a football
match deteriorates into armed combat when "hooligans" beat fans of
the opposing team almost to death, just because they belong to the
opposing side. In the Western world, there are organisations whose
sole purpose is to foster hatred against Africans, Jews, Turks and other
minorities, even to the extent of making them targets of terrorist
assaults.
The influence of "fanatical rage" pervades not only the lowest
classes, but also the highest echelons of some societies. There are many
countries that exploit the matter of a simple border dispute as an
excuse to carry out open acts of aggression. To satisfy their belligerent
tendencies, they throw their countries into a war, persisting
stubbornly in their aggression for years, plunging not only the citizens
of the enemy country, but even their own people into misery. Those
authorities who make such decisions are afflicted with what we are
referring to as "fanatical rage." As explained in the above quoted verse,
he who "fills his heart with fanatical rage" lives in ignorance.

19.
Romantic Nationalism
Among these ignoramuses are also they who instigated the two
greatest calamities of the twentieth century: the First and Second
World Wars. Moved by such false notions as "German heroism,"
21
"English pride" and "Russian courage," they subjected their own
people, as well as the whole world, to great suffering, spilling the
blood of 65 million people, and leaving tens of millions crippled,
widowed and orphaned.
The root cause of these calamities was "fanatical rage." We are
now referring to it as "romantic nationalism."
The Birth of Romantic Nationalism
Nationalism as an idea spread throughout Europe in the 18th
century. Prior to that, people lived under the power of many feudal
lords. Then, they came together under a single nation-state governed
by a central administration. European countries such as France and
England were among the first to espouse the notion of nationalism
and to become a nation-state. By the 19th century, most of the nations
of Europe had achieved national unity.
Only two countries did not participate in this development:
Germany and Italy. In both these countries, the power of principalities
or of small city-states lasted much longer. Italy achieved nationhood
only in 1870, and Germany only a year later, in 1871. In other words,
both these countries were later than other European countries in
adopting and implementing the ideas of nationalism.
However, this particular situation was the cause of the
development of a more radical brand of nationalism in these two
countries than in the other countries of Europe. According to the
widespread opinion of social scientists, the reason for the birth and
accession to power in these two countries of the extreme forms of
nationalism, Nazism and fascism, was the spread of fanatic
nationalistic sentiments linked with the late formation of national
unity.
In these two countries, and especially in Germany, those who

20.
ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN
promoted the idea of fanatic nationalism were known as "romantic
nationalists." The basic features that characterise romantic nationalists
are their exaltation of feeling to the detriment of reason, their belief
22
that their nation is endowed with a mystical and mysterious "spirit,"
and that this spirit makes their nation superior to others. Towards the
end of the 19th century, romantic nationalism was influenced by racist
theories that were then gaining wide acceptance, and which led to the
claim that European races were superior to the other races of the
world, and therefore, had the right to rule them.
Romantic nationalism spread quickly, again, especially in
The gravest example of "romantic nationalism" in the twentieth century was Hitler's Germany. This
racist nationalism developed entirely through the influence of romantic idealism, and the oppression
and misery to which it gave rise constitute a black stain on the history of the world.

21.
Romantic Nationalism
Germany, during the first two decades of the 19th century. Writers
such as Paul Lagarde and Julius Langbehn supported the idea of a
kind of hierarchical world-order which Germans were to administer.
23
They claimed this could be achieved due to the natural superiority of
the "German spirit" and "German blood," and that, to this end,
Germans must turn their backs on monotheistic religions, such as
Christianity, and return to their pagan past.
The growth of mystic (occult) societies in Germany played an
important role in the spread of romantic nationalism during this
period. The world-view shared by these societies was composed of
several shallow ideas, such as these: human beings can attain truth not
with their reason but through their feelings and intuitions; every
country possesses a national "spirit;" the German national "spirit" is a
pagan spirit. These societies prepared the ground for the rise of Hitler
and Nazism. The English historian Michael Howard writes that "the
rise of a pan-German nationalist movement which drew its spiritual
strength from occultism and its ideology from the esoteric
philosophies of the secret societies... formed ...the extreme racialist
doctrines, which, in the 1920s, spawned National Socialism."1
Indeed, romantic nationalism's only contribution to humanity has
been to have prepared the foundation for Nazism, one of history's
most brutal and bloody regimes.
The Schizophrenia of Romantic Nationalism
Because romantic nationalists believed they were to find truth
through "feeling and intuition," and not through reason, they came to
adopt a most confused view of the world, one which reflected their
poor spiritual condition. The American professor of History, Gerhard
Rempel, in his article entitled "Reform, Liberation and Romanticism in
Prussia," describes the spiritual state of the romantic nationalists in the
following words:
Romanticists sought to escape into fantasy, sentimentality and

22.
ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN
allegory. Spiritually they toyed with death, with brooding, with the
somber, opaque recesses of the night. Novalis [a pioneer of the early
German Romantics] said: ''Life is a sickness of the spirit.'' What we
24
have here is the beginning of aesthetic pessimism…. Romanticism
uncovered the deeper irrational forces of the human spirit… Novalis
believed that all worlds and ages could be united by the magic of
imagination… Through the patriotic literature of the war of
liberation this ''dance of the soul" reached the broad masses of the
population.
The German Romanticists developed the cult of aestheticism which
was at once a rejection of reason and an attempt to apprehend unity
and immediacy in one instantaneous act. In this theory the poetical
was the absolutely real.2
The foundation of romantic nationalism was based on "feeling."
This fanciful ideology produced individuals who were cut off from
reality, lost in the confusion of their own minds. Romanticism, by
enslaving people to their feelings, leads them to lose touch with reality,
and in this manner, can be compared to the psychological disease of
schizophrenia. (Those who suffer from schizophrenia are completely
In Nazi
Germany, the
masses were
entranced
under the
influence of
grandiose
emotionalism,
and they were
easily deceived
into
acquiescing to
the inhuman
motivations of
Nazism.

23.
Romantic Nationalism
cut off from reality and live in a world created by their own
imaginations.)
The disease of schizophrenia provides a poignant analogy of the
25
spiritual condition of romantic nationalism, which is based on a
number of errant ideas, chief among them being the notion of "blood"
and "fatherland," which it then idolizes and turns into obsessions to be
pursued blindly. In Germany, at the beginning of the twentieth
century, the idea of "Blut and Boden" (Blood and Fatherland) gained
momentum. According to this notion, German blood and the German
fatherland were holy, and those minorities within the country that did
not belong to the German race, were seen as polluting German blood
and sullying the German fatherland. This current of thought exercised
a great influence on the Nazi
ideology, which viewed the
spilling of blood as part of a
holy crusade. In the course
of an unsuccessful coup
attempt in 1923, Hitler took
a party flag stained with
Nazi blood and virtually
turned it into an idol of
worship. This flag came to
be known as "Blutfahne"
(Blood Flag). It was
preserved as it was and
became the most holy
symbol in all Nazi
gatherings. Other, new flags
were touched to it, so that it
might transmit something of
its "sacred" quality.3 Above: A propaganda poster from the Nazi era
symbolising romantic nationalism, and extolling
the German race and people with heightened
sentimentality.

24.
ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN
Bloodshed in
Romantic Nationalism
26 The type of attitude that
regards blood and bloodshed as
holy has been the cause of the
bloodiest conflicts seen in human
history. The first and second
World Wars were but clashes
between romantic nationalists.
The current of romantic
nationalism was most clearly seen
in Germany, but it also had its
influence at the same period in
English, French and Russian
societies, where it was also
responsible for drawing those
countries into war. It fanned into
flames those problems that could
otherwise have been solved
through diplomacy, and
ultimately inflicted the world with
the massacre of millions of human
lives.
Under the influence
of romantic
nationalism, people
were provoked into
world wars, whose
only outcome was
bloodshed, misery
and tears. In the
aftermath of those
wars, millions were
dead, widowed,
orphaned, and
thousands of cities
ruined.

25.
Romantic Nationalism
To understand the outcomes of romantic nationalism, it is useful
to study the developments of First World War. Although many
countries participated in that war, only few of them played a pivotal
27
part. On one side were England, France and Russia; on the other,
Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. At the outset of the war,
all generals shared a common strategy: through a forceful attack, the
enemy lines could be divided and routed and within a few weeks,
victory would be attained. However, the war brought victory to no
one.
In 1914, Germany suddenly invaded France and Belgium. After
an initial advance, forces were engaged in battle, the front-lines of
assault were drawn up, and for almost three and a half years, no
further ground was gained. Each side attacked the other repeatedly in
In the wars which resulted from the emergence of romantic nationalism, the
value of human life was nearly completely forgotten. Excited by such
sentimental ideas as the "German spirit," "English honour" and "French
valour," praised in romantic marching songs and poems, leaders made
irrational decisions, sending their own people to slaughter.

26.
ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN
the hope of dividing the opposing front, but
the situation remained unchanged. In the
famous Battle of Verdun, initiated by a
28
German attack, a total of 315,000 French and
280,000 German soldiers died, but the front
was moved back only a few kilometres.
Months later, the English and French
launched a counter-attack at the Battle of the
Somme and, as a result of the bloody
engagement, 600,000 Germans, more than
400,000 English, and about 200,000 French
soldiers died. Nevertheless, the German front
was driven back only 11 kilometres. With their
enthusiasm enflamed by romantic marching
songs, and through moving poetry extolling
the "German spirit," "English honour" and
"French valour," military strategists and
tacticians finally made unwise decisions,
causing the slaughter of their own people.
Most of those soldiers who survived the three
and a half years in the muddy trenches,
without being able to even raise their heads
because of the continual bombardment, also
suffered psychologically as a result of their
experiences.
A terrible example of senseless bloodshed
brought about by romantic nationalism in the
First World War was the attack against
German lines led by the French general Robert
Nivelle in April 1917. Nivelle promised before
A mentality of bloodlust came into being in World
War II. Because of the psychopathic passion of
romantics like Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin, a total
of fifty-five million people perished. These were
the heartless protagonists of the Second World
War, whose quest for utopian ideals led the whole
world into oppression, cruelty and corruption.

27.
Romantic Nationalism
the battle that, "within two days he would divide the German lines
and within one week gain decisive victory." Although the German
army was more advantageously positioned, the French army set out to
29
honour this unreasonable promise, and attacked on April 16. An attack
they had hoped would end in two days lasted more than one and a
half months, without a result, other than the death of hundreds of
thousands of soldiers, and finally, mutiny among the French troops.
The same blood-lust mentality came to the fore again in World
War II, but this time with even greater casualties. A total of 55 million
people died as a result of the overweening ambition of psychopathic
romantics such as Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin.
It is not only in global conflicts that romanticism plays a role; it
also lies at the root of war and aggression between various countries,
tribes and organisations. Without a clear understanding of the factors
involved in the situation in which they were living, millions,
influenced by emotional slogans, tales of heroism, stirring marching
songs and poems, have taken up arms and shed, not only their own
blood, but also the blood of those they considered to be the enemy,
plunging with them the world into confusion and strife.
In the four corners of the world, people incited to savagery and
violence by romanticism can subject others to unimaginable
tortures, and commit various kinds of inhuman acts against them.

28.
ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN
At the beginning of this book, we pointed out that sentimentality
is a weapon used by Satan to divert humanity from the way of God,
and to lead them into misery. This trap that Satan has set for humanity
30
is clearly evidenced in romantic nationalism. In the Qu'ran, God
relates how Satan submits those under his influence to a state of terror,
confusion and hostility:
He (God) said, "Go! And as for any who follow you, your
repayment is Hell, repayment in full! Stir up any of them you can
with your voice and rally against them your cavalry and your
infantry and share with them in their children and their wealth
and make them promises! The promise of Satan is nothing but
delusion." (Quran, 17:63-64)
The above verse relates how Satan, using those individuals under
his control, will "entice any of them whom he can with his voice" and
"rally against them his cavalry and his infantry"-the means to provoke
romantic nationalism.
Darwinism: The Intellectual Basis of
Romantic Nationalism
Romantic nationalists have resorted to a few philosophical and
so-called scientific revelations to help justify their penchant for the
shedding blood. The basis of these revelations is Darwin's Theory of
Evolution.
Darwin, an English biologist, wrote a book called The Origin of the
Species which was published in 1859. In this book, he proposed that a
merciless struggle occurs in nature and, according to whether or not
they gain advantage in the struggle, living things develop and new
species come into existence. In other words, according to Darwin, the
key to development in nature is conflict. In another book, The Descent
of Man, published in 1871, Darwin developed his ideas more cogently
and proposed, moreover, that some races of humanity were more
advanced relative to others, thus laying the foundations of scientific
racism. Darwin regarded the white races of Europe as "advanced

29.
Romantic Nationalism
races," and considered Africans, Asians, and even Turks, as "primitive
and half-ape."
With the spread of Darwin's theory, racism and militancy quickly
31
gained support, to the point where they began to be perceived as
"scientific fact."
The relationship between Darwinism and romantic nationalism
should thus be clear: romantic nationalists founded their lust for
conflict, and their obsession with the superiority of their own race over
others, on Darwinism.
It is possible to recognise Darwinism's catastrophic influence at
work in the extraordinary degree of bloodshed that took place during
World War l. Without a moment's hesitation, German, French, English,
Russian and Austrian generals sent hundreds of thousands of soldiers
to their deaths, for nothing. They adhered to the Darwinian slogan
that, "living things develop through conflict and races rise to pre-
eminence through war." It was in accordance to this line of thought
that they gave the command for war.
For example, the connection between war and the laws of natural
conflict was upheld by Friedrich von Bernhardi, a First World War
general. "War" declared Bernhardi "is a
biological necessity"; it "is as necessary as
the struggle of the elements of nature"; it
"gives a biologically just decision, since its
decisions rest on the very nature of
things."4
The Commander-in-Chief of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire, General Franz
Baron Conrad von Hoetzendorff, wrote in
his memoirs after the war:
Philanthropic religions, moral teachings
and philosophical doctrines may
certainly sometimes serve to weaken
mankind's struggle for existence in its
Charles Darwin's theory brought
crudest form, but they will never succeed misery upon misery to the world.

30.
ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN
in removing it as a driving motive of the world… It is in accordance
with this great principle that the catastrophe of the world war came
about as the result of the motive forces in the lives of states and
32
peoples, like a thunderstorm which must by its nature discharge
itself.5
German chancellor Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg's advisor
and close friend Kurt Riezler wrote in 1914:
Eternal and absolute enmity is fundamentally inherent in relations
between peoples; and the hostility which we observe everywhere…
Since the time of
Darwin, racist attacks
and related violence
have increased.
Today, we continue
to find such twisted
ideas in
organisations such
as the Neo- Nazis
and the Ku Klux
Klan, which target
blacks and people of
other races. It must
not be forgotten, that
the responsibility for
all of these inhuman
tendencies arises
first and foremost
from Social
Darwinism.

31.
Romantic Nationalism
is not the result of a perversion of human nature but is the essence of
the world and the source of life itself.6
Romanticism encourages passionate affiliation between those of
33
its own ranks, but incites anger and hatred against others. This is a
spirit very much in accordance with the Darwinian concept of "the
struggle for survival of the races." When applied in the social sciences,
Darwin's theory is given the name of "Social Darwinism," and has
been a major source of justification for romantic nationalism and
racism. The American writer Janet Biehl, in her article entitled
"Ecology and the Modernization of Fascism in the German Ultra
Right," has this to say on this topic:
Social Darwinism has deep roots in the German ultra-right… Like
Anglo-American social Darwinism, German social Darwinism
projected human social institutions onto the nonhuman world as
'natural laws,' then invoked those 'laws' to justify the human social
arrangements as 'natural.' It also applied the maxim 'survival of the
fittest' to society. But where Anglo-
American social Darwinism
conceived the 'fittest' as the
individual entrepreneur in a 'bloody
tooth and claw' capitalist jungle,
German social Darwinism
overwhelmingly conceived the
'fittest' in terms of race. Thus, the
'fittest' race not only would but
should survive, vanquishing all its
competitors in its 'struggle for
existence.'7
In Germany, the most important
representative of Social Darwinism was
Ernst Haeckel: Germany's
the biologist Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919).
foremost proponent of Social
He contributed to Darwinism by Darwinism.
proposing the theory, summarised in

32.
ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN
"Ontogeny Recapitulates Phylogeny," that
mammals replicate the process of evolution
in their embryonic development. (Years later
34
it was realized that this theory was
unfounded and that Haeckel had even
falsified his charts and diagrams.)
Haeckel founded the "Monist League,"
an association whose aim was the
propagation of atheism, and which, at the
same time, became a centre of racism and
romantic nationalism. In the 1920's, the Nazi Another book by
movement, which was then developing Gasman, seen above,
treats the growth of
under the leadership of Hitler, was Social Darwinism in
influenced by the ideas of Haeckel and the Germany in more detail.
"Monist League." The historian Daniel Gasman, writing of these
developments in The Scientific Origins of National Socialism: Social
Darwinism in Ernst Haeckel and the German Monist League, said:
...[R]acially inspired social Darwinism in Germany… was almost
completely indebted to Haeckel for its creation… His ideas served to
unite into a full-bodied ideology the trends of racism, imperialism,
romanticism, anti-Semitism and nationalism… It was Haeckel who
brought the full weight of science down hard on the side of what
were Volkism's essentially irrational and mystical ideas.8
Gasman also wrote:
It may be said that if Darwinism in England was an extension of
laissez faire individualism projected from the social world to the
natural world, [in Germany it was] a projection of German
romanticism and philosophical idealism… The form which social
Darwinism took in Germany was a pseudo-scientific religion of
nature worship and nature-mysticism combined with notions of
racism.9
In the same vein, Janet Biehl wrote that "Haeckel was also a
believer in mystical racism and nationalism, so that German social

33.
Romantic Nationalism
Darwinism was from the beginning a political concept that lent
romantic racism and nationalism a pseudo-biological basis." 10
35
Conclusion
All that we have discussed demonstrates once again that
romanticism is a psychological disposition and a world-view that is
completely outside the bounds of and inimical to religion. This is also
clear in the sense that, Darwinism, which has been almost
synonymous with atheism ever since it was first proposed, is implicit
in romanticism.
The relation of romantic nationalism to Darwinism, and its role in
the rise of the Nazi movement, reveals yet another important fact:
Romanticism is a highly pernicious influence for both the individual
and for societies. Those caught up in it can be easily beguiled into a
way of thinking that is completely contrary to reason, common sense,
and right conscience. They may be led to believe, for example, that
their own race is superior to all others, that they are justified in going
to war, in invading and occupying much of the whole world, and that
it is legitimate for them to annihilate or enslave other nations.
Nazi Germany was the prime historical instance to demonstrate
the destructiveness and cruelty of romantic nationalism. When the

34.
ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN
36
Nazis came to power in 1933, Hitler and his staff of generals
undertook a campaign to "inculcate romantic sentiments," and within
a short time, German society came to adopt the nonsensical assertions
of romantic nationalism. At the end of the 1930's, the overwhelming
majority of Germans came to believe that soon a "German Empire"
(Third Reich) would be founded that would govern the whole world
and last for a thousand years. In order to bring about their awaited
destiny, they believed that the German race needed to be "purified"
through the elimination of all minorities in the country. They also
believed that Hitler was an unassailable and unconquerable "leader"
(Führer), possessed of supernatural powers who would lead them to
certain victory. Listening teary-eyed to Hitler's angry, belligerent,
paranoid and discriminatory speeches, the masses were bewitched
and lost all sense of reality.
The famous Nazi Nuremberg rallies were a clear manifestation of
"romantic brain washing." The American researchers Michael Baigent,
Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln, describe these meetings in these
words:
The notorious Nuremberg rallies were not political rallies of the kind
that occur in the West today but cunningly stage-managed theatre of
the kind, for example, that formed an integral component of Greek

35.
Romantic Nationalism
37
religious festivals. Everything - the colours of the uniforms and flags,
the placement of the spectators, the nocturnal hour, the use of
spotlights and floodlights, the sense of timing - was precisely
calculated. The film-clips depict people intoxicating themselves,
chanting themselves into a state of rapture and ecstasy using the
mantra 'Sieg Heil!' and doting on the Führer as if he were a deity. The
faces of the crowd are stamped with a mindless beatitude… It is not
a question of persuasive rhetoric. In fact, Hitler's rhetoric is quite
unpersuasive. More often than not, it is banal, childish, repetitious,
devoid of substance. But his delivery has a venomous energy, a
rhythmic pulse to it as hypnotic as a drumbeat; and this, combined
with the contagion of mass emotion, with the pressure of thousands
of people packed together in a confined area… produces a mass
hysteria… What one witnesses at Hitler's rallies is an 'alteration of
consciousness' such as psychologists generally associate with a
mystical experience.11
More precisely, the Nazi meetings were mass-hypnosis sessions,
which completely robbed people of their reasoning faculties, and put
them under the spell of romanticism. Triggering the Second World
War, this romantic hysteria cost the lives of 55 million people.
Nazism is merely one example of the destructive consequences of

36.
ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN
38
The need was felt for distinct symbols to stir up romantic nationalist sentiments in
the people; such as, the "German army," "German people," the "German flag,"
"German blood," etc...

37.
Romantic Nationalism
People were 39
captivated by
emotionalism
inspired by Satan.
Spellbound, they
listened to Hitler,
and even
applauded his
inhuman deeds.
The romanticism,
which had reached
such a degree of
insanity, was also
taught to children
who were, in turn,
diverted into the
path of perversity.
romanticism. Because romanticism robs people of their reason, and
places them under the power of their emotions, it can lure them into
every kind of perversion. For this reason, it is easy to mislead a
romantic person. Under the appropriate conditions, and within just a
short time, he can become a fervent racist or fascist. In another
instance, however, he can become a communist militant, attack
innocent people while chanting Leninist marching songs, or even lose
sight of his senses to the point of setting himself on fire for what he
comes to deem as a just cause. It is possible for a romantic to be cruel
and harsh in one instant and sob emotionally in the next. There is no
limit to the insanity that can result once wisdom is out of function, and
one becomes a captive of his emotions-better to say, the irrational
passions Satan provokes in him.

38.
… "I will take a certain fixed proportion
of Your slaves. I will lead them astray
and fill them with false hopes. I will
command them and they will cut off
cattle's ears. I will command them and
they will change God's creation."
Anyone who takes Satan as his
protector in place of God has clearly
lost everything. (Quran, 4:118-119)

39.
The Various Ideologies of Romanticism
n the previous section we looked at the effects of romanticism
I resulting from "romantic nationalism." Now let us look at some of
the other manifestations of romanticism to see some of those
calamities it has brought upon humanity. The first ideology we must 41
examine is one equally as appalling as romantic nationalism: that is,
communism.
Communist Romanticism
Communism was incepted as a supposed ideology of reason. Its
founders, Karl Marx (1818-1883) and Friedrich Engels (1820-1895) had
adopted the philosophy of materialism which, they thought, they
could apply to the social sciences and explain the "laws of history."
Marx distinguished various stages of history: advanced countries of
the time, such as England, were living in the "capitalist phase." He
predicted that, after this phase, there would inevitably follow a
workers' revolution which would begin the socialist phase. He also
predicted that this revolution would happen spontaneously, that is,
arising from the initiative of the workers themselves, and that it would
happen in England and other industrialised countries.
Marx's predictions did not come true, however. The fact that they
would not materialise was evident within 30-40 years after his death.
There was no revolution in England or in any other industrialised
country; on the contrary, the social and economic conditions for
workers improved.
Communism's Claim to Rationality is False
Marx's theory, then, should be considered as one of the many
historical errors committed in the name of "social science," and should
therefore have been abandoned. But, such was not the case. A group of
individuals styling themselves "Marxists" attempted, with difficulty,
to actualise Marx's unfounded predictions. Although the revolution
Marx said would happen "spontaneously" did not come about at all,
Marxists sought to incite the revolution through the establishment of

40.
ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN
organisations which would bring it about by force of arms. The most
important Marxist to have tried to revise the interpretation of Marx,
and to make excuses for his unrealised predictions, was Lenin.
42
Lenin asserted that it was not in advanced countries such as
England where the revolution would occur, but in unindustrialised
countries like Russia. He said that communism would be successful
there, and from there would spread throughout the whole world. To
realize his dream, he spent many years, both inside and outside Russia,
making preparations for the revolution. The opportunity for him to
come to power arose from the confusion caused by World War l.
Lenin's predictions, like those of Marx, came to nothing. Neither
was the system he founded successful, nor did communism spread
throughout the world. Today, the Soviet Union that Lenin founded has
drifted into history, and the communist system it forced on those
countries it occupied has collapsed everywhere. It is accepted that
communism was the gravest and most unsuccessful political
experiment of the twentieth century.
That Marxism was flawed has been proven, not only by its
unfulfilled promises, and the collapse of the system it gave rise to, but
also by the failure of the philosophy it was based on. The basic
premises of the materialist philosophy, which is the basis of Marxism,
have been discredited by the scientific discoveries of the twentieth
century. For example:
1. Materialism asserts that the universe has existed forever and
that matter, therefore, was not created. But the Big Bang theory,
accepted in the twentieth century, indicates that matter and time were
created from nothing. This theory proposed that the universe came
into being from nothing 10-15 billion years ago, appearing as a sudden
and small activity out of nothingness. In other words, the truth that the
"Big Bang" theory reveals is that nothing happened by chance; that
there was an activity out of nothingness, and after this activity, matter
and time appeared. This theory completely discredits materialist

41.
The Various Ideologies of Romanticism
43
The most well-known symbols of communist romanticism: the proletariat
breaking its chains, figures with clenched fists, revolutionary songs
defending socialism to the death.

42.
ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN
claims and proves that matter, time, and the first activity, were created
by God.
44
2. Materialism claims that matter and time are both "absolute;"
that is, they are always existent, unchanging and stable. However,
Einstein's Theory of Relativity proved that matter and time are not
absolute, but merely perceptions subject to change.
3. Materialism claims that human mental functions and capacities
can be reduced to a material explanation. However, the discovery of
the brain's intricacies has shown the existence of various mental
functions which have no corresponding feature in the brain, and has
attested to the fact that human mentality exists beyond matter, and
belongs to the "spirit."
4. Materialism asserts that living things were not created but, as
Darwin's theory of evolution claims, came into being by chance. This
claim has been discounted by scientific discoveries in the twentieth
century, and it is now understood that there is an undeniable "design"
in living things, leading to the fact that it is God who has created all
life.
If an ideology claims to be rational, but its claims do not stand up
to the scrutiny of reason or science and, furthermore, if the plain facts
The fathers of communism: Marx (left) and Engels (right). In the middle is a translation
into Russian of Marx's Das Kapital.

43.
The Various Ideologies of Romanticism
do not bear witness to its validity, then that ideology's claims must be
rejected. Those who have adopted this ideology must subject it to
rational inquiry, and would then discover its invalidity and abandon
45
it. If communists were people who used reason, logic and common
sense instead of living in a romantic dream-world, communism would
have been discredited hundreds of times by now.
Because the foundation of communism rests on romanticism,
those who continue to espouse it can do so only contrary to the
warrant of reason and science, and can defend it only with their eyes
closed to the fact that it is obsolete as an ideology. Already when it was
found that the basic predictions of Marxism were not going to be
realised, it should have been put aside. However, it was not
abandoned. Revolutionary movements have sprung up all over the
world, trying to make Marxist dreams a reality by means of
revolution, civil war, guerrilla struggle and terror means of attack.
The Soviet Union and the whole of the Eastern Block collapsed,
Red China adopted a capitalist economic system. However,
communism has still not been abandoned. Even today, throughout the
world, communist organizations
continue their activities. Despite the fact
that they must know that the
"revolution" they speak of is a fantasy,
they continue to shed blood, just so as
to not have to abandon communism.
They frenziedly set themselves as well as
their comrades on fire, as they sing
communist marching songs,
romantically, blindly and stubbornly
holding on to their antiquated ideology.
People who set themselves on fire for the sake of
an idea or an ideology are actually possessed by
an extreme form emotionalism. Because they fail
to think rationally, they tend to react by
committing acts which they falsely deem to be
courageous.

44.
ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN
This shows that communism is not an ideology based on reason,
and that those who espouse it do so for reasons arising from
something other than from a rational commitment to it. Many would
46
regard the reason for such a commitment to merely be "fanaticism,"
"bigotry," or obsession called an "idee fixe." Upon further
investigation, it becomes apparent that beneath this supposed
fanaticism lies the tremendous influence of romanticism.
That is, communism also derives strength from the spell of
romanticism.
Examples of Communist Romanticism
Initially, people are usually not aware of communism's romantic
spirit, because communists always speak in terms of science,
philosophy and rationality. However, communists develop their ideas
out of a romantic outlook. In fact, they blindly reject those scientific
findings, which do not fit their purposes, as "bourgeois." Stalin went
even to the point of systematising this prejudice by creating an absurd
distinction between "bourgeois" and "proletariat" science.
On the other hand, if we were to look in detail at communist
publications, magazines, poetry or marching songs, we would
discover that their ideology is bound tightly to romanticism. They
have idolized certain ideas, developing excessive emotional
attachment to them. The most important of these is the notion of
"revolution." For a communist, revolution is the end of all evil and the
beginning of everything good. They are hopelessly enthralled with a
fantasy they know will never be realized. They do not attempt to
examine their idea of "revolution" rationally, nor ask, for example, "For
what purpose should the revolution be sought?" "What is the
justification of a revolution in which masses of innocent people will be
killed and the whole of society suffer?" "Can the living conditions of the
poor not be improved without revolution?" "How will it affect the
economy?" "How will the country then be governed, its inner conflicts
resolved, and external threats be removed?"
A communist does not see these questions as having any

45.
The Various Ideologies of Romanticism
47
One of the most disturbing aspects of communism was its attempt to present its
leaders as figures with super-human qualities, working on behalf of the people,
regardless of the fact that in reality they were criminals responsible for the death of
millions of people. The purpose of this sort of propaganda was to entice people to
feel an emotional attachment to their leaders, and thereby, to pardon their crimes.
importance; his only goal is revolution. If he is to provide an answer to
any of these questions, he will quote the typical and oft-repeated
phrases from the books of Lenin, Stalin or Mao, but he will not himself
think rationally for answers to these questions. What binds him most
dearly to the idea of revolution are the emotive poems written or
passionate marching songs sung of revolution. Communist literature
frequently speaks of "the beautiful country covered in flowers" and "the
red sun on the horizon." Actually, the relationship between a
communist and his idea of revolution is comparable to a romantic love-
story. There are communist booths at universities, book-fairs, and
cultural centres; if you go into any of them, or into a communist bar or
cafe, there you will see the many symbols used to give fervour to this
romanticism. Posters of a mighty proletariat breaking his chains,
figures with clenched fists, revolutionary songs about the struggle to
the death for socialism, are the most common symbols of the romantic
communist.
This romanticism is also sometimes reflected in the attire of the
communists. A young communist will often been seen wearing a khaki

46.
ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN
parka and commando cap, identifying himself with the Latin American
communist guerrilla Che Guevara, and no doubt in his room, among
his personal possessions, you will find a poster of "Che." The only
48
difference between him and a college student romantically obsessed
with a Pop star, is the kind of star he has chosen; his
is not a musician but a guerrilla fighter.
Another interesting example to consider of
communism's romanticism is the great delight they
take in causing themselves pain and in making
people feel sorry for them. For example, a
communist militant might begin a "hunger strike" in
prison, prepared to starve himself to death to
achieve some petty goal. On the one hand, he feels
pleasure in the pain that it causes him, and enjoys
the sympathy others feel for him and his plight,
while, on the other hand, he takes pride in being
recognised among his friends as "hero."
The romantic pleasure that communists take in
their pain can sometimes attain very high levels.
Communists have committed some frighteningly
savage acts in their demonstrations; for example,
they have lit themselves on fire, they have tied one
selected from their number to iron bars, poured
inflammable liquid over him, set him on fire, and
sung communist marching songs as he burned. As
discernible from recorded images, the militants who
perform these mindless acts of savagery are much
like the crowds of Nazi
gatherings; they undergo a
This poster is typical of
Communist Romanticism's
symbolism. These posters
served to strengthen the
emotional attachment the
people have for their leader
and his ideology.

47.
The Various Ideologies of Romanticism
"lapse of consciousness" and are captivated by an emotional and
psychological trance.
It is possible only stubbornly for a communist to remain firmly
49
devoted to his ideology, knowing that its ideals will never be
implemented. This blind commitment to ideology is demonstrated in
vaunts such as: "I don't care if it's wrong, I don't care if we are
successful or not, I am a communist and I will be until I die." Certainly,
a rational person would not behave in
such a way. This blind dedication is
like the kind of madness seen in the
obsessive desire of a man for a woman
who has deceived and humiliated
him, but who, despite it all, refuses to
stop loving her.
It has been demonstrated then,
that communism is simply an element
of the weapon of romanticism used
by Satan to rob human beings of their
reason, and to alienate them from
faith in God. Despite its claim to be a
rational philosophy and ideology,
communism is rife with ideas that run
contrary to simple reason and science.
At least a century has now passed
during which communists have
continued to doggedly defend their
ideology, making it clear that their
devotion to the cause is a romantic
one.
The psychology of the people
gathered in the large communist
rallies in Red China and Soviet
Russia, was actually no different
from that of the people in Hitler's
Germany. The force that drew them
unconsciously into partisanship
was their subliminal romanticism.

48.
Whenever they commit an
indecent act, they say, "We
found our fathers doing it and
God commanded us to do it
too." Say: "God does not
command indecency. Do you
say things about God you do
not know?" (Qur'an, 7:28)

49.
Romanticism in the Name of Religion
ather than a fully developed ideology itself, romanticism is
R rather an influence which permeates various other ideologies,
proffering them with an emotional quality that allows them to
rob people of their rationality. As it has penetrated such entirely
51
irreligious and perverse ideologies as fascism and communism, it also
at times makes its influence felt under the guise of religion.
Before broaching this topic, there is an important point that must
first be understood. A movement that claims for itself the name of
religion may not necessarily be truly religious. On the contrary, in the
past, there have been many individuals, groups and ideas which, while
operating in the name of God and religion, have intended to do
damage to religion and to its followers. God provides us with examples
of such instances in the Qu'ran. For example, a criminal was plotting to
kill one of God's prophets, the prophet Salih. While devising his plan,
he and those with him made an oath in the name of God:
They said, "Let us make an oath to one another by God that we will
fall on him and his family in the night and then say to his
protector, 'We did not witness the destruction of his family and we
are telling the truth.'" (Qur'an: 27:49)
Those pagans who opposed the prophets often accused them of
"fabricating lies against God," pointing to the fact that they thought of
themselves as religious and God-fearing. (Qur'an, 42:24) For example,
Pharaoh, who was perverse to the point of claiming himself to be a
god, said this about Moses:
...Let me kill Moses and let him call upon his Lord! I am afraid that
he may change your religion and bring about corruption in the
land. (Qur'an, 40:26)
This shows that it is possible to think perversely and to carry out
perverse acts under the name and guise of religion, and romanticism
is at the top of the list of those perversities that are thought to be
religious but, in fact, is not related to religion at all.
To understand how romanticism is confused with religion, it is
necessary to fully understand the idea of "sincerity." Sincerity is doing

50.
ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN
something in order to gain the approval of God only. If the act is truly
done with sincerity, it is counted as worship in the sight of God. For
example, praying, fasting, giving alms, working in the cause of God,
52
and all other acts of service, are to be regarded as acts of worship, only
if they are undertaken to gain the approval of God. Worship
performed without the intention of gaining God's approval is invalid
according to God's command in the Qu'ran: "So woe to those who
pray, and are forgetful of their prayer, those who show off" (Qur'an,
107, 4-6) This is also clear in the words of the Prophet Mohammed,
who said, "God accepts those deeds which were performed purely for
His sake and which were meant to seek His pleasure."12
It is in this manner that romanticism distorts religion. It directs
religion towards a purpose other than gaining the approval of God; it
represents religion as an emotional experience, in which people may
satisfy their emotional needs, not to be practised for the pleasure of
God.
Romanticism under the
guise of religion was the
cause of the mass
suicides of many cult-
members in the U.S.A.
David Koresh (above left)
was responsible for the
death of 80 of his
followers in 1993. Under
the leadership of Jim
Jones (above) a total of
900 of his cult members
committed suicide in 1978.

51.
Romanticism in the Name of Religion
53
Under the influence of emotionalism people become members of perverted cults
and completely lose touch with reason and true religion. Herff Applewhite (above)
told his followers that someone called "Do" was going to come and take them
away in a UFO. They believed him and committed suicide as a group.
By obfuscating this subtle but very important distinction,
romanticism leads people to a completely false understanding of
religion, the end-result being mysticism. When people cease to
understand religion as submission to God, and begin to regard it as a
means for "psychological exhilaration," then a number of mystical
practices are sought, submerging them even deeper in this false
approach.
When we compare romanticised religion with the religion that
God has revealed to us in the Qu'ran, we can recognise a number of
great difference:
1. In the Qu'ran, God commands human beings to use their
minds, to think, to consider what God has created and, in this way, to
come to faith. However, the romantic approach to religion excludes
reason; it doesn't lead people to use their minds, on the contrary, it
encourages them not to think at all.
2. According to the romantic notions about religion, it is often
deemed commendable for a person to abuse themselves and cause
themselves pain. For example, there are Christians who think they are
drawing closer to Jesus by having themselves crucified. In certain
Oriental religions, such as Buddhism, starving oneself, sleeping in an

52.
ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN
In superstitious
religions, it is
common for people
to immolate
54 themselves, injuring
their bodies in the
name of faith. This
is a result of a
romantic
understanding of
religion.
uncomfortable place, and other forms
of "self immolation," are supposed to
make one holy. However, in the
Qu'ran, there is absolutely no such
idea as that a person should cause
himself pain. This verse from the
Qu'ran expresses this warped romantic understanding succinctly:
"God does not wrong people in any way; rather it is people who
wrong themselves." (Qur'an, 10:44)
In short, according to the romantic approach, religion is
something that encourages one's tendencies to idolize individuals, to
be unreflective, nostalgic, self-effacing and self-destructive. It is a
counterfeit system, comprised of beliefs and practices totally alien to
true religion.
Instead of learning what God wants from them, and living their
lives accordingly, people prefer to continue the approach to religion,
the behaviour and stereotypical ways of thinking inherited from their
ancestors. They do not lead their lives according to a rational
assessment of the conditions surrounding them, but hold on to the
same old traditional patterns of thought and behaviour. This is a
perversity against which God warns strongly in many verses of the
Qu'ran. Here are a few examples:
When they are told, "Come to what God has sent down and to the

53.
Romanticism in the Name of Religion
Messenger," they say, "What we found our fathers doing is enough
for us." What! Even if their fathers did not know anything and
were not guided! (Qur'an, 5:104)
55
Whenever they commit an indecent act, they say, "We found our
fathers doing it and God commanded us to do it too." Say: "God
does not command indecency. Do you say things about God you do
not know?" (Qur'an, 7:28)
When they are told: "Follow what God has sent down," they say,
"No, we will follow what we found our fathers doing." What! Even
if Satan is calling them to the punishment of the Blazing Fire?
(Qur'an, 31:21)
Conclusion
If a person wants to be able to practise the kind of religion that God
wants him to practice, he must first escape the mire of romanticism. As
He has commanded in the following verse: "That is because God is the
Real…" (Qur'an, 22:62), God is the Real, and to understand this it is
necessary to be a "realist." Those who are captivated by romantic ideals,
on the other hand, are influenced either by perverse ideologies, such as
romantic nationalism or communism, or lose touch with the notions of
wisdom and sincerity through a romantic interpretation of religion, or
are affected by the kind of romantic idea of love that we shall examine
in the next chapters of this book.
Even if those individuals affected by this way of thinking were to
start practicing religion, they lack the mental stability to persevere,
because of the faltering spiritual condition that romanticism leads
them to have. There are numerous individuals who begin to practice
religion inspired by a few romantic notions, but who quickly give it up
and return to a life without religion.
However, God gives this command to human beings:
He is Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything in between
them, so worship Him and persevere in His worship. Do you know
of any other with His Name? (Qur'an, 19:65)

54.
… A Light has come to you from
God and a Clear Book. By it, God
guides those who follow what
pleases Him to the ways of Peace.
He will bring them from the
darkness to the light by His
permission, and guide them to a
straight path. (Qur'an, 5:15-16)

55.
The True Wisdom That Comes From Faith
n what is to follow in this book, we will examine the effects of
I romanticism in our daily lives. Before venturing into this topic,
however, we must explain in more detail the meaning of the idea
of "wisdom" we have mentioned so often up to this point in the book. 57
The important difference between a wise person and an
intelligent person is often missed. This is a critical error. The word
"intelligence" is generally used in our society to refer to the quality of
mere mental acuity, and is very different from wisdom.
Wisdom is the quality of a believer who has the ability to
recognise the subtle signs of God in everything that He has created,
allowing him to understand the world around him. But, any attempt
to consider these things, that relies only on the brain's ability to
calculate cause and effect, is bound to end in a mechanistic and narrow
perception of reality. Intelligence is a quality of a believer who has a
firm faith in God, and who lives his life in accordance with the
teaching found in the verses of the Qu'ran. Intelligence is a physical
characteristic possessed by all individuals in varying degrees, but
wisdom is a quality that belongs only to believers. Those who do not
have faith also are not possessed of the "virtue" of wisdom.
Wisdom allows a believer to properly employ his mental abilities,
judgement, and logic, thus making the best use of his virtues. An
individual without wisdom, no matter how intelligent he may be, is
bound at some point to veer into faulty thinking or into bad
judgement. If we examine unbelieving philosophers throughout the
course of history, we will recognise that they have put forward
different and sometimes even diametrically opposed views on the
very same subject. Despite the fact that they were people of high
intelligence, they had no faith; and because they had no faith, they also
were not sufficiently wise and were therefore incapable of arriving at
the truth. Some of them, indeed, drew humanity into numberless
errors. We can find several such examples in recent history: Many
philosophers, ideologues, and statesmen, such as Marx, Engels, Lenin,
Trotsky, despite the fact that they were very intelligent, caused disaster

56.
ROMANTICISM: A WEAPON OF SATAN
to fall upon millions of people, because they were unable to use their
minds effectively. Wisdom, however, assures peace, well-being, and
happiness, and shows the way to attain them.
58
Intelligence makes it possible for us, among other things, to think,
form perceptions, focus our attention, and engage in practical
activities. But, in addition to all these, a wise person also possesses a
deep understanding unattainable by mere intelligence, and by means
of which he is able to distinguish between truth and falsehood.
Therefore, a wise person possesses insight far superior to that of an
intelligent person.
The source of wisdom, as we said before, is a deep-seated faith
and fear of God. Those who fear God, heed His commandments and
proscriptions, become naturally possessed of this superior insight as a
blessing from God. But, though this virtue is easily acquired, very few
are endowed of wisdom. This condition, that God makes known in the
Qu'ran, saying, "Most of them do not use their reason." (Qur'an,
5:103), arises from the fact that most people do not have the proper
faith, having left no room for the Qu'ran in their lives.
The wisdom that God has
granted to those who fear Him,
You who believe! If
and who live their lives in
you have fear of God, conformity with the Qu'ran,
He will give you a renders the devout believer
criterion (by which to superior to the unbeliever in
judge between right many ways. The basic
and wrong) and erase components of this wisdom are
your bad actions the believer's knowledge that
from you and forgive God controls all things all the
you. God's favour is time, his consciousness of the
indeed immense. fact that everything in its every
(Qur'an, 8:29) detail comes into being
according to the fate which God
has predetermined, and his

57.
The True Wisdom That Comes From Faith
awareness that he is with God at every moment. In addition, wisdom
makes it possible for the believer to adapt himself easily to changing
conditions and situations.
59
The keenness of the believers' insight and understanding, their
attentiveness and awareness, their superior analytical ability, good
morals, strong character, and their wisdom in word and action, are all
natural products of their wisdom. (for detailed information see True
Wisdom According to the Qur'an by Harun Yahya)
Consider if the extraordinary characteristics we have described as
belonging to an individual were to belong to society as a whole. Think
of the benefits incurring to a society formed of individuals who use
their minds in every thing they say, in every action they take, in every
decision they make, and in every problem they undertake to solve;
think of the kind of environment that would exist in a society formed
of wise individuals... Indeed, we all need people of wisdom around to
ensure our comfort, health, security, and peace of mind. Furthermore,
the existence of wise individuals is indispensable in order to prevent
chaos, confusion and anarchy, and to discover solutions to the
problems from which these things arise. Taking these matters into
consideration, it is clear that the key to every problem is the
recognition of a need tempered with wisdom.
Undoubtedly, wisdom is the most important quality a person can
have. With it, he brings benefit to others more than anyone else,
because, by the morality that faith instils, there is no greater aim for
him than to gain the approval of God. Throughout his life, such a
person displays the qualities of the true believer as described in the
Qu'ran: he protects the oppressed, he cares for the homeless, the
lonely, and the needy, he feels responsibility for the fair application of
justice and will not tolerate anyone going hungry. His wisdom allows
him to apply what he has learned from the Qu'ran in his own life, and
to develop a conscientious sense of social responsibility. We all seek
such people, who use their minds to find solutions to problems, to
apply the appropriate measures, in giving advice and